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IHS Markit smartphone research is different. We deliver comprehensive smartphone data, down to specific models and component categories, providing you with the detailed insight and data you need on the rapidly evolving global smartphone industry.

Xiaomi is changing its strategy for new members of the Redmi range of smartphones dramatically. The new K 20 Pro is positioned as a true flagship device for the Redmi brand. The company is combining premium hardware components while retaining aggressive pricing in a push to further take control of the Indian smartphone market.

HMD Global launched five new mobile phones at MWC 2018, all with striking industrial design. By choosing to only offer handsets with Google's pure Android One or Android Oreo (Go Edition), HMD threatens to disrupt established OEMs with legacy software. The new Nokia 8110 demonstrates featurephones are evolving now with LTE and will not die soon. HMD's flagship Nokia 8 Sirocco has a stunning steel-framed dual curved edge display in a super compact frame which will target Europe.

At MWC Sony Mobile unveiled two new smartphones, Xperia XZ2, XZ Compact and the commercial launch for its Xperia Duo wearable. The importance of Sony’s innovations with these new smartphones will set the tone for the smartphone market for the next few years. IHS Markit expects other smartphone OEMs to deliver similar capabilities in the future including copying Sony’s 4K HDR video capture. But there is much more work needed to re-build Sony’s smartphone business and achievable sustainable profitability.

India is seen as the next driver of smartphone growth. This report provides analysis on (1) recent regulatory changes in India's smartphone industry; (2) the impact of the aggressive entry of Reliance Jio; (3) the performance and strategies of major OEMs; (4) our view of the market outlook and some caveats for smartphone OEMs.

On January 20, 2017 Apple filed a lawsuit against Qualcomm at the Southern District Court of California. In the lawsuit, Apple accused Qualcomm of breach of contract, violation of unfair competition laws and requested judgement on royalty rate it must pay for Qualcomm’s standard essential patents. (SEPs) Since Apple’s initial legal lawsuit, both companies filed additional lawsuits in different jurisdictions and the dispute grew into a full scale patent licensing war.
This article provides summary and analysis of the licensing dispute between Apple Inc. and Qualcomm Inc.

Spreadtrum has announced that its mobile SoC, the SC9820, is powering the first commercially available 4G feature phone in India. The proclamation comes on the heels of a combined $22 billion investment in...

The objective of the article is to examine patent rulings in the past few years that have made major impacts on the smartphone industry in four different regions: United States, Europe, India and China.
In particular, this article will examine the following two aspects of the patent industry that are relevant to the smartphone market:
I. Rulings made on Standard Essential Patent (SEP) royalty rates
II. Recent changes in patent laws for each region

At MWC 2016, the major leading smartphone makers launched new flagship smartphones as well as a new range of VR 360 degree smart accessory cameras. Including, Samsung's Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge; Xiaomi Mi5; and notably LG's G5 with a modular expansion capability; and Alcatel's Idol 4S which is bundled with a VR headset .

The Mi5 is a class leading smartphone with innovative design elements and the very latest hardware technology, but Xiaomi needs to do more with its software ecosystem to significantly grow its business beyond its home market of China. Although, the Mi5's low prices will help shipment volumes everywhere Xiaomi launches the MI5.
Until Xiaomi tackles the fundamental international issues with its portfolio, its shipment growth will continue to be low. Xiaomi is trying to address this with two things: the number of patents it is now filing around the world and its partnership with Qualcomm on the Mi5.

In September 2014, the Government of India (GOI) launched the ‘Make-in-India’ program to encourage multinational and domestic companies to manufacture their products in India, with the objective of attracting capital and technological investment in India. Within a year, by August 2015, GOI had received US$17 billion worth of proposals from foreign and homegrown companies for manufacturing electronics in India.

Samsung is finally launching a smartphone powered by its homemade operating system, Tizen. Samsung is launching the Z1 exclusively in India. Unusually for an OS launch product, the Z1 does not feature high-end hardware to show off the new software. Despite the launch, IHS does not believe that Tizen will make a significant impact on the smartphone market. It is much more likely that Tizen's impact will be felt in the wearables market.

Japanese consumer electronics manufacturer Sony drastically lowered its financial outlook, increasing the loss it expects to make this financial year to 230 billion yen (approximately $2.15bn or €1.65bn). This is an increase of 180bn yen (approximately $1.67bn or €1.3bn) and Sony attributed the entire change to its mobile business unit. Sony now finds itself stuck in a "catch-22" situation where the prospects of it being successful at either the high-end of the smartphone market or the low-end are slim.

Google has launched its Android One initiative in India. The program aims to provide a high level of experience on low-end devices by supplying a standard reference design that will work with the latest version of Android. This aims to solve Android's fragmentation problems as well as stave off competition from Microsoft at the low end of the smartphone market.

Chinese smartphone manufacturer is lauching in India as part of its gradual international expansion. The Indian smartphone market is booming and Xiaomi should be able to capture a significant portion of it. However, it is unclear whether Xiaomi's business model can work outside of China where it cannot rely on its appstore for revenue.

Google unveiled its latest smartphone from its developer-focussed Nexus line. It will launch in the US, Canada, the big 5 in Western Europe, Japan and South Korea from November 1st.
The Nexus 5 features...

Since the acquisition of Screen Digest Limited in 2010 by IHS Global Limited we have worked to create a new and exciting team under the name IHS Electronics & Media. This team brings together a unique...

Japanese manufacturer Sony reported healthy growth from its smartphone business in its earnings for the first quarter of its financial year. Sony shipped 9.6m smartphones in the quarter ending on the 30th of...